Özet:

Sheikh Ken'an Rifâi, who outstands the unity and love in his Sufi views, draws a portrait of a Sufi that has a conscious personality and follows a balanced and middle way. This state of balance makes itself felt in Rifâi’s understanding of religion and Sufism. In this article, I will examine the understanding of Sufism and life of Ken'an Rifâi, one of the Late Ottoman Sufis and educators. Ken'ân Rifâi, a member of the Plovdiv Dynasty, was born in Salonika, in 1867. During the Bulgarian ethnic rebellion against the Ottoman Empire, Ken'an Rifâî moved to Istanbul with his family in 1876. Having graduated from Galatasaray High School, he worked for a short time at governmental offices of Sublime Porte. He then became a high-ranking administrator and teacher under the Ministry of Education. He was appointed in various cities of the Empire from Anatolia to the Balkans such as Balikesir, Adana, Bitola, Kosovo, and Trabzon. Ken'ân Rifâî received his Qadiri license from Sheikh Ethem Efendi and his Rifâî license from Sheikh Hamza Efendi. Upon his return to Istanbul, he built a Sufi lodge adjacent to his mansion and became an official sheikh registered in the Ottoman Council of the Sheikh in 1908. Ken'an Rifâi continued to train his followers for seventy years. With his written work and compositions, he had a significant contribution to the literature and culture of the Sufi tradition. He closed his lodge in 1925 with the Republican ban of Sufi orders without any opposition as he considered it as the will of God. Ken'an Rifâi is an educator and sheikh of the 20th century. It is important to examine Rifâi’s life and understanding of Sufism in order to better reflect on the Late Ottoman Sufy movements.

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